Napoli's coach, Rafael Benitez, urges his team on in their Serie A match with Sassuolo. Photograph: Maurizio Parenti/AFP/Getty Images

Napoli warmed up for Thursday night's Europa League match at Swansea City with a 2-0 victory at Sassuolo.

Rafael Benítez's team are third in Serie A but have been exasperatingly inconsistent all season. The Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili gave Napoli a half-time lead and Lorenzo Insigne made the game safe with a superb finish as he burst into the penalty area to bend his shot past Gianluca Pegolo.

A bizarre own-goal gave the Serie A leaders, Juventus, the jitters, triggering memories of last weekend's dramatic collapse at Verona, before they recovered to beat Chievo, second from bottom, 3-1.

Juventus, who have proved irresistible at home, raced into a 2-0 lead inside half an hour after the Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah's curling long-range shot and Claudio Marchisio quick reaction to a rebound from Andrea Pirlo's free-kick.

Having infuriated their coach, Antonio Conte, by squandering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Verona last week, Juve then allowed Chievo back into the game with a soft goal just after the break. Stefan Lichtsteiner fired an attempted clearance straight at Martin Caceres and the ball ricocheted off the stunned Uruguayan into goal.

Fernando Llorente calmed Juve's nerves when he headed in a Pirlo cross just before the hour to restore their two-goal advantage.

The Spaniard's 10th league goal of the season ensured Juve, who have scored at least three goals in each of their last five home games, maintained their 100 percent home league record this season.

Mattia Destro grabbed a double and Miralem Pjanic capped an inspirational performance by scoring a majestic free-kick to give AS Roma a convincing 3-0 win at home to Sampdoria, keeping them nine points behind in second spot. Roma had plenty of chances but had to wait until a minute before half-time when Destro headed in a corner. Pjanic curled in his free-kick in the 54th minute and Destro completed the scoring three minutes later, cleverly turning his marker and firing into the roof of the net from close range after Gervinho had opened up the defence.

There was plenty of drama lower down the league as Livorno won 2-1 at Cagliari despite having two players sent off. The Brazilian pair Emerson, with a 30-metre strike, and Paulinho, from the spot, put Livorno 2-0 ahead in Sardinia before their compatriot Nene pulled one back for Cagliari.

Livorno held on for the points despite having Federico Ceccherini sent off for a second yellow card after 85 minutes, then Marco Benassi dismissed for a tackle from behind in stoppage time. Daniele Conti was also sent off for the hosts in the 71st minute.

Genoa fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Udinese, Alberto Gilardino netting twice in the final 21 minutes, and visiting Parma thumped Atalanta 4-0.

Catania moved off the bottom with a shock 3-1 win at home to Lazio. Stefano Mauri scored his first goal for the away team since completing a six-month ban for failing to report match-fixing in 2011.

About this article

Napoli outclass Sassuolo as Juventus stay nine points clear at top

This article was published on
the Guardian website
at 20.16 EST on Sunday 16 February 2014.
It was last modified at 02.01 EDT on Tuesday 3 June 2014.
It was first published at 20.14 EST on Sunday 16 February 2014.